"It was already one in the morning," his dulcet tones begin. "The rain pattered dismally against the panes and my candle was nearly burnt out when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light I saw the dull yellow eyes of the creature open."

Only Dan Stevens could make listening to the very scary Shelley on a cold, dark autumn evening an exciting prospect.

But now we can't help but hope that ITV decides to move forward with a zombie-filled Downton Abbey Halloween special.